Denali Train, Alaska Railroad Denali Star Train Anchorage to Fairbanks with stops in Denali and Talkeetna. The DenaliStar Train is the Alaska train connection for Denali National Park.
We offer Alaska raft trips that offer scenic views, wildlife viewing, fishing, and whitewater.
Custom group Alaska rafting adventures are available on request. If have interested in something special or participating in an exploratory expedition, please contact us with your ideals or to see what plans are being made.
Kongakut River - 10 day Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Rafting Safari. Explore Alaska's remote Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) by raft on the "river of caribou". Our trip coincides with the annual migration of the 130,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd and passes through some of the world's most pristine wilderness.
Lake Creek - 7 day Whitewater Rafting and Fishing Adventure. Our favorite fly-in wilderness adventure river, great combination exciting whitewater and great Alaska fishing. Lake Creek offers almost continuous Class II/III whitewater with a few Class IV rapids, five species of salmon, rainbow trout and arctic grayling.
Chulitna River - 4 day Denali Raft Adventure. An excellent family adventure and sampling of Alaska's best wilderness and geography at a casual pace. We travel through Denali State Park, upper Susitna Valley and take out near Trapper Creek, a historic gold mining town.
Denali Star Train runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks with stops at Talkeetna and Denali National Park, home to Denali or Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak.
Here is what you can expect once you step onboard the Denali Star Train:
Large picture windows
Forward-facing reclining seats
Open-air vestibules
Dining cars
Tour guides provide commentary
Gift shop onboard
Non-smoking cars
First-class Gold Star GoldStar Service - Upgrade to first-class service aboard double-deck dome cars, the unobstructed scenic views and luxury rail travel has never been better. The exclusive private GoldStar open air viewing deck is the perfect way to enhance your Denali Train experience and to experience the grandeur of Alaska.
Reserve your upper-level dome car seating today!
GoldStar Service Features:
Confirmed seat in the upper-level dome car
Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages served at your seat
A full-time bar attendant is available to those looking for libations
Priority check-in and boarding
Priority seating in the lower-level dining room showcasing original Alaska artwork
Private outdoor viewing deck - the only one of its kind
Denali Star Train Route Highlights
Anchorage to Talkeetna Anchorage is headquarters to the Alaska Railroad and the journey to Fairbanks begins here. Several miles into the trip, the heavy birch forests of Eagle River and Chugiak lead to the Knik and Matanuska Rivers.
The expansive watershed harbors wildlife like moose, bear, the occasional wolf and abundant waterfowl. About 40 miles from Anchorage comes the Matanuska Valley, Alaska's agricultural center and home to the towns of Palmer and Wasilla.
Just south of Talkeetna, 70 miles further, the first view emerges of Denali ("The High One" or "The Great One"), North America's highest peak. The train takes its first stop in Talkeetna, a small town with a mining history and now, a popular takeoff point for climbers to Denali.
Talkeetna to Denali
From Talkeetna, the track follows the serpentine banks of the Susitna River. On clear days, more views of Denali emerge across the river presenting many chances for photos. Black and brown bear frequent the sandbars and scuttle into the brush as the train approaches.
Next, the Indian River Canyon is home to many beavers and beaver lodges can be seen in the ponds along the way. The track climbs toward tree line, first crossing Hurricane Gulch, the longest bridge on the railroad just over 914 feet and 296 feet above Hurricane Creek.
The train moves into Broad Pass. At 2,363 feet it's the highest point on the railroad, and where caribou migrate through during the fall. Thousands of travelers visit Denali National Park and Preserve to see wildlife like wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, moose and bear, and, of course, Denali.
Denali to Fairbanks
The coal-mining town of Healy follows after a 10-mile jaunt through Healy Canyon, where the surging waters of the Nenana River cuts through the steep-sided cliffs. As the track levels out, Nenana comes into view.
Nenana is home to one of the remaining original Alaska Railroad Depots, now a museum and gift shop. The track cuts through the northern boreal forests of interior Alaska. Birch, aspen and willow fill this landscape where gold miners first came to seek their fortunes.
Fifty-eight miles from Nenana, Fairbanks, the "Golden Heart City" signals the end of the line - but just the beginning for more adventure, culture and history in the Last Frontier.
Backcountry Safaris
P.O. Box 1397 Seward, Alaska USA 99664 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159
Backcountry Safaris is a member of the following trade and travel organizations:
Overview
Tour Type: Scenic, Alaska Railroad Passenger Service Difficulty: Easy, Wheelchair Access Comfort: Adventure Class Good, Gold Star Excellent Prior Experience: None
2012 Tour Dates
May 16 - September 16
**May 16, Northbound only
**September 16, Southbound only
Depart
Arrive
Northbound, Anchorage to Fairbanks
Anchorage
8:15 AM
Wasilla
9:35 AM
Wasilla
9:35 AM
Talkeetna
11:05 AM
Talkeetna
11:20 AM
Denali
3:45 PM
Denali
3:55 PM
Fairbanks
8:00 PM
Southbound, Fairbanks to Anchorage
Fairbanks
8:15 AM
Denali
12:15 PM
Denali
12:25 PM
Talkeetna
4:40 PM
Talkeetna
4:55 PM
Wasilla
6:15 PM
Wasilla
6:15 PM
Anchorage
8:00 PM
Tour Rates
Route Traveling Fare Pull Down
Child Fares 50% off (under Age 12)
Adventure Class, Standard Seats
GoldStar First-class, Dome Car Seats
Did You Know?
Did you know that Denali or Mt. McKinley, located within Denali National Park and Preserve, is the highest mountain on the North American continent? Measured from the 2,000 foot lowlands to its snowy summit at 20,320 feet, the mountain’s vertical relief of 18,000 feet is greater than that of Mount Everest.
Copyright 2011 Backcountry Safaris, All Rights Reserved
Denali Star Train runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks with stops at Talkeetna and Denali National Park, home to Denali or Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak.
GoldStar Service - Upgrade to first-class service aboard double-deck dome cars, the unobstructed scenic views and luxury rail travel has never been better. The exclusive private GoldStar open air viewing deck is the perfect way to enhance your Denali Train experience and to experience the grandeur of Alaska.
The expansive watershed harbors wildlife like moose, bear, the occasional wolf and abundant waterfowl. About 40 miles from Anchorage comes the Matanuska Valley, Alaska's agricultural center and home to the towns of Palmer and Wasilla.
by David Miller
by James A. Michener
by Claus-M Naske and Herman E. Slotnick
by Robert H. Armstrong
by John G. S. Trelawny
Did You Know?